The days passed without Charlotte and Sebastian noticing any change – they were still trapped in each other's bodies, trying to navigate their daily lives as best as they could. The biggest challenge was not completely neglecting their responsibilities.
Robin had finished building the chicken coop, so Sebastian went to Marnie's on Charlotte's behalf to buy two chickens and some feed. He was surprised when Marnie handed him the two chicks in a small transport box – just like that. For some reason, he had expected to buy fully grown chickens (though, if he understood Marnie correctly, Charlotte wouldn't bond with them as easily? Why was bonding so important anyway? They were just supposed to lay eggs). What surprised him even more was that he could take them home immediately.
He and Charlotte had agreed that she would return to the farm later that afternoon since she had convinced him to let her handle his emails and show her face around his family. Plus, he had promised Sam, long before this whole mess, that he would help him prepare for his party – a promise that Charlotte now had to fulfil.
And so he found himself in the new chicken coop with the two chicks. At first, he considered leaving them in the box until Charlotte got there. But the little ones chirped so pitifully that he couldn't bring himself to do it. He knelt on the wooden floor, opened the lid – and waited.
"Hello? You can come out," he murmured when nothing happened. Then he leaned down to peek into the box, where the two chicks were pressed against the back wall, suddenly silent. His heart clenched.
"You don't have to be afraid," he whispered. But, of course, the chicks didn't understand him. Sebastian's first impulse was to leave them alone – but then he wondered if it might be important for them to associate their new home with Charlotte from the start. So he stayed.
His eyes landed on the bag of feed he had bought. He grabbed it, tore open a corner, and scattered a few kernels on his palm. Carefully, he slid his hand through the open lid. At first, nothing happened – but then he flinched as he felt a tiny, cool beak against his hand. Feathers brushed his skin, followed by little feet. One of the chicks had climbed onto his hand. He wanted to glance down to see what was happening but was afraid that any movement might startle them back into hiding – so he stayed still.
It took a while before the second chick joined the first. Then they both jumped down again, chirping excitedly as they finished all the kernels. Sebastian carefully withdrew his hand and laid out a trail of kernels leading out of the transport box. Smiling, he watched as the chicks cautiously ventured out – and he had to stifle a laugh when one of them tried to hop onto his knee. The other chick was more reserved, still focused on the feed rather than on Sebastian – but the bolder one immediately hopped onto his outstretched hand.
Sebastian watched the tiny creatures in front of him, their hesitant movements and soft chirps filling the silence. They were so small, so fragile – and yet they trusted him. It was strange, he thought, how something so simple could feel so significant. He wasn't used to this – to being needed, to taking care of something alive. But as one of the chicks gently pecked at his fingers, he felt an unexpected warmth spread through him.
"Alright, little ones," he murmured. "I guess we'll figure this out together."
Charlotte had spent the morning at Sam's, who hadn't expected her – or rather, Sebastian – to show up at 10 a.m.
"Are you sick or something? Why are you up so early?" the blonde had asked, so confused that Charlotte almost laughed – but then she remembered that she was supposed to be Sebastian and just shrugged.
"I've got a project to finish today," she said simply. She didn't feel the need to mention that she'd been up at Sebastian's desk since 6 a.m., unable to sleep. She wanted to get everything done early enough to spend the rest of the day on her farm – and besides, she was still struggling to fall asleep at night. It wasn't just because she was haunted by all the thoughts and feelings she could suppress during the day – Sebastian also seriously needed a new mattress.
But since she ended up spending far more time at Sebastian's PC than planned, she decided to do more than just answer emails. She examined the lines of code Sebastian had written and discovered that he programmed in the same language she had used for years at Joja. She could follow his methods and understand the logic behind his work – but it was painfully clear that he had trouble staying organized. He had a calendar where he jotted down deadlines – but some were already overdue even before they'd swapped bodies. Or he hadn't marked them properly.
She tried to align his task list with his emails – and shuddered when she realized that he didn't use any subfolders in his inbox. So she started organizing. She created subfolders, linked emails to calendar entries, and prioritized his to-do list. She wrote apologetic emails to clients who had been waiting for a response for over a week – and even managed to tackle some smaller tasks that Sebastian had either overlooked or procrastinated on.
As she worked, Charlotte remembered how much she used to enjoy this aspect of her job – and for a brief moment, she forgot all the reasons why she had left that life behind.
When Charlotte stood in front of Sam's door again a few hours later, she felt a queasy sensation in her stomach. She wasn't ready to step into a room full of people as Sebastian – sure, she'd managed it at the saloon before, and over the past few days, she'd mentally prepared herself for this situation. But she still had no idea how Sebastian normally behaved at parties. She imagined he was probably the quiet type in these settings – but what she absolutely didn't want to deal with were awkward questions. She sighed and was just about to knock when Sam opened the door, his cheeks flushed and his eyes slightly glazed over. A broad smile spread across his face – it was obvious he had started drinking well before the party began.
"There you are!" he exclaimed, grabbing Charlotte by the arm and pulling her inside. The party hadn't really gotten going yet; the music was far too loud for the small number of guests, and Charlotte wondered if only Pelican Town residents would be attending.
She wanted to wave to Penny, who was sitting awkwardly on the couch looking a bit lost – but at the last moment, she remembered that Sebastian wouldn't care whether Penny was there or not. Emily stood at the buffet, inspecting the selection of food Jodi had prepared that morning. Leah and Elliott were deep in conversation by the bookshelf, and a quick glance into the kitchen revealed Jodi and Marnie fortifying themselves for the night ahead with glasses of red wine.
There was no sign of Sebastian. Charlotte wasn't sure if she'd prefer him not to show up – but then again, she couldn't imagine he would miss his best friend's birthday, no matter the circumstances.
Sam reappeared beside her and handed her a glass of coke – or so she assumed. But as she brought the glass to her lips and the sharp scent of rum hit her nose, she wrinkled it. The look Sam gave her reaction told her she'd just secured the first awkward question of the evening.
"What? Cuba Libre? Like always?" Sam gestured toward the drink, which lacked both ice cubes and lime. What it did have was an unmistakably low cola content, something Charlotte could smell all too clearly. She decided to put on a good face for Sam – planning to dump the drink in the bathroom later and swap it out for a regular coke. Maybe Sam had coke zero here? She raised her glass with exaggerated nonchalance, clinked it against Sam's, and took a sip. She tried not to grimace, but the rum was far too strong to ignore entirely.
"You think Charlotte's gonna show up?" Sam asked, glancing nervously toward the door. When it swung open (Sam hadn't locked it because of the loud music), he straightened for a moment, only to slump back when he saw Kent coming in with what seemed to be another case of beer. Charlotte suppressed a smile. Sam was adorable. Not her type at all, and she couldn't imagine them being a good match – but his crush still flattered her.
As Sebastian, though, she simply shrugged. Sam gave her a sceptical look.
"Don't act like you don't care," he said. "The way you stood there next to her and Alex at the saloon?" Charlotte felt her cheeks heat up.
"No idea what came over me," she said, trying to brush it off. Then she looked at Sam as confidently as she could manage. "I've got zero interest in her. I've just been around her more the past few days because… I had to help my mom build something on her farm."
Sam didn't seem entirely convinced but took a sip of his beer anyway. Then he gave her a crooked smile.
"I think it's totally normal to be into the first new face to show up in a town in years. Especially when it's such a beautiful face," Sam offered as if to explain himself. Charlotte patted his shoulder. He was about to clink glasses with her again when the door swung open once more, and Abigail walked in. She strode directly to Sam and hugged him enthusiastically.
"Happy birthday!" she exclaimed. Then she turned to Charlotte and gave her a hug too. Charlotte couldn't help but notice that Abigail held her a bit too tightly and lingered in the embrace just a little too long. Charlotte was the first to pull away. Abigail gave her a mischievous smile before turning back to Sam.
"You'll get our gift later. Seb just has to tell me where he hid it."
The blood drained from Charlotte's face. Oh god. A gift. Of course! How could she and Sebastian have forgotten? He hadn't said a single word about what they were giving Sam - and even worse, she had no idea if he had actually gotten anything at all. Abigail must have noticed the look of panic on her face because she playfully nudged Charlotte in the side.
"Caught you! Seb, as if I'd ever trust you with a gift," Abigail teased, her tone light and playful. "Don't worry, Sam, it's already taken care of." She winked at Charlotte and glanced around at the other guests. "Who else is coming?" she asked.
Sam started listing names, and sure enough, no one from outside Pelican Town was expected to show up. Charlotte wasn't sure whether that would make it easier or harder to keep a low profile. However, Sam had invited some people she hadn't anticipated - like Harvey, for example. She had never noticed Sam and the doctor talking before.
Harvey arrived with a small group, including Alex, and - much to Charlotte's annoyance - Haley, who clung to Alex's arm as if she might collapse without him. Behind them came Robin and Demetrius. After congratulating Sam, they made a beeline for the kitchen, where Jodi, Kent, and Marnie seemed to have grand plans for the evening. Demetrius had a board game tucked under his arm, but judging by the way Jodi was already uncorking a second bottle of red wine, Charlotte doubted the ladies would be reliable players.
"Seb, I feel like I haven't seen you at all these past few days. What's going on with you?" Abigail asked as she followed Charlotte to the sofa. When Charlotte sat down, Abigail plopped down too – nearly landing in her lap.
One thing was clear: it wasn't just the older crowd who had big plans for the evening. Abigail clearly had a destination in mind for how her night would end. She made it even more obvious when she adjusted her neckline, feigning nonchalance.
"This and that – I helped Mum with building Charlotte's chicken coop. She strained her shoulder recently, so I carried some stuff around for her and all that," Charlotte lied smoothly, her words rolling off her tongue with practised ease. Abigail's expression faltered slightly at the mention of Charlotte's name, a flicker of irritation crossing her face, but she quickly replaced it with a sweet smile.
"Not like you at all, Seb," Abigail teased.
Charlotte shrugged. "It's a nice balance to all the programming."
Abigail nodded as she casually rested her hand on Charlotte's knee. Charlotte had to give it to her: Abigail knew how to flirt. At the same time, she couldn't fathom how Sebastian hadn't noticed that his best friend was hopelessly in love with him. Or... did he know?
Charlotte studied Abigail more closely. Her violet hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and her dark eye makeup made her eyes sparkle with an intense vibrancy. The black choker she wore accentuated her neckline, perfectly drawing attention to her generous cleavage. Abigail noticed Charlotte's appraising look and seemed to interpret it as encouragement, doubling down on her advances.
Her hand slid from Charlotte's knee to her thigh, and she leaned in close, her lips brushing Charlotte's ear.
"Let's sneak off later," Abigail murmured, her voice low and sultry.
Charlotte's discomfort spiked as she caught the faint scent of Abigail's breath. Abigail had been "preparing" for the party in more ways than one. Had she gotten tipsy to work up the nerve?
Charlotte said nothing, unsure how to handle the situation. Unfortunately, her silence seemed to be all the answers Abigail needed. The girl laughed loudly and sprang to her feet, leaving Charlotte sitting there, both mortified and bewildered.
"But first, I need a drink. Are you coming with me?" Abigail asked, but before Charlotte could respond, her attention was pulled to the door as new guests arrived at the party.
Maru stepped in first, turning to speak to someone behind her, who entered more hesitantly. Charlotte's eyes followed Maru's gesture – and froze when she saw herself step into Sam's living room.
She wasn't the only one staring.
Sebastian, in her body, had chosen an outfit that left Charlotte momentarily speechless. He wore a long-sleeved, sheer black top that revealed a cropped bandeau beneath – a combo Charlotte herself had often worn to parties back in Zuzu. The edgy ensemble was paired with loose, light-grey jeans that she didn't recognize but fit her body perfectly, hanging casually on her hips.
Her – no, Sebastian's – red curls were piled into a messy updo, with loose strands framing her face in a way that emphasized its features beautifully. And, as Charlotte squinted slightly, she realized Sebastian had even gone the extra mile with her makeup. Smoky, dramatic eyes made her blue irises pop, lending a confident, bold look.
Abigail's annoyed groan snapped Charlotte out of her daze, and she realized she'd been staring a little too long. Still, she couldn't help herself. Sebastian reminded her of somebody she thought she had lost a long time ago – her old self.